It is the comms sector's responsibility to create a common purpose that expands and drives programmes to help close the digital divide, stated Diego Tedesco - Director, Wholesale Fixed - Virgin Media O2 Business.
In his Comms Vision (2-4 November, Gleneagles Hotel) address to delegates he urged the industry to come together and tackle what he sees as one of the biggest issues facing the UK today - the requirement to create a more inclusive digital society, in part by helping disadvantaged people across the digital divide.
"The most important topic for the industry is levelling up," he stated. "This means every corner of our society having equal access to opportunities and prospects. It's a bold vision and a big task."
Tedesco noted that 20 per cent of the UK lives in social housing and many are vulnerable and lack digital resources.
He pointed up a digital inclusion pilot bringing together telcos, social housing providers and local authorities in Manchester, where Virgin Media O2, BT, Hyperoptic, TalkTalk and Vodafone worked together to assess the minimum standards for connectivity in social housing.
"Connectivity has a huge part to play in the levelling up agenda," he added.
"Many take for granted the day-to-day activities done via digital yet many parts of society have no access to connectivity."
Digital literacy and work-ready skills are also creating digital disparity, especially when we consider the extent to which Covid-19 shifted many activities and services online, including learning and jobs. "Connectivity and up-skilling is a societal imperative, but it doesn't happen quickly enough," added Tedesco.
In October Virgin Media O2 Business began offering free digital skills training delivered potentially by more than 2,000 company volunteers working with local authorities and the public sector across the UK.
The campaign forms part of Virgin Media O2 Business’ Connect More programme and builds on Virgin Media O2 research which found that the UK’s digital skills gap is costing the economy £12.8 billion, with 5.4 million people unable to carry out simple digital tasks.
"We can't level up unless we have a digitally skilled workforce - which is a societal challenge," said Tedesco. "Digital skills are connected to better paid jobs, so those lacking skills are locked out of job opportunities and learning.
"There is an opportunity to make a big change but we need to join forces and collaborate."
According to Ofcom eight million UK households struggle to pay for connectivity, while access is a problem for others.
Tedesco says the industry can work towards bridging the digital divide in a way that provides greater access to digital infrastructure and supports local economies.
"Underpinning this is the fibre roll out, but it needs to reach more rural areas," he added. "Thirty four per cent of rural businesses rate their connectivity as poor, so access to digital infrastructure is not equal. They are disadvantaged when it comes to attracting talent and enterprise investment."
Efforts to reduce digital disparities could be further challenged by turbulent times as the UK faces into a possible recession, a scenario that is feared to widen the digital gap.
"There may be pressure to cut public spending and investment into digital programmes, which will deepen and widen the digital divide," warned Tedesco.
These pressures underscore the importance of stepping forward to help connect everyone to the digital future, urged Tedesco.
"We want to expand our Connect More programme through the industry," he added. "We must collaborate. It's important to work together."